Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
1032. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the location and estimated budget of the higher education building projects envisaged in budget 2021, in tabular form and those approved in previous capital development plans yet to be actioned; the criteria these projects are to be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33578/20]
View answer1034. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a schedule of all significant capital projects in HEA supported institutions in the final business case, implementation or evaluation stages of development in tabular form. [33580/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1032 and 1034 together.
The key drivers of capital investment in higher education include:
- Catering for a significantly expanded student body as demographics feed through from post-primary level
- Supporting the ambitions of Project Ireland 2040 with regard to a more balanced population and employment growth across Ireland’s regions
- Developing and sustaining the skills and research base necessary to underpin Ireland’s competitiveness
- Supporting modern, innovative and flexible approaches to teaching and learning, including online provision
In addition to the above, the ambitions of the new Programme for Government in relation to emissions reductions mean that upgrade and retrofit of the existing higher education building stock will become an important objective in its own right.
Higher education capital funding is mainly organised on the basis of funding programmes, which have tailored parameters depending on the objectives that they seek to achieve. Capital investment is an enabler of wider sectoral objectives and there is therefore close alignment between policy priorities and capital investment decisions.
The key Exchequer funding programmes include the following:
- Higher Education PPP Programme
- Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund
- Higher Education Infrastructure Upgrade and Refurbishment Fund
- Devolved Capital Grant
- 2020 Once-off ICT Devices Grant
- Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme (co-funded with SEAI)
I am attaching a table which includes the detailed project-specific information requested by the Deputy. All approved projects are progressing through the pipeline and are at various stages of planning, design or construction.
In cases where projects have been completed, the total project cost is stated. In other cases, a cost range is provided. Project budgets for projects that have not yet reached the contract award stage are commercially sensitive.
